195 



Ventnor, Newport, Carisbrook Castle, Blackgang Chine, and Freshwater, in 

 the Isle of Wight ; near Brokenhurst, in the New Forest ; on the clifts near 

 St. Margaret's Bay, Kent ; and very rarely in the neighbourhood of Great 

 Bedwyn and Sarum, Wiltshire. It also formerly occurred in Yorkshire and 

 Lincolnshire. In the Channel Islands it is most abundant, occurring all 

 round the coasts of Guernsey and Jersey ; but appears to have almost dis- 

 appeared from England, a few only having been taken of recent years in the 

 Isle of Wight. 



The first record we have of it as being a British species, is in Petiver's 

 " Gazophylacium Naturae et. Artis," published in 1702. It is there recorded 

 as being found in Lincolnshire, and near London in a wood at Dulwich. 



Kay, in his " Historia Insectorum," published in 1710, calls it "Papilio 

 Fritillarius Lincolviensis fascius subtus pallidis," and after describing it, 

 winds up with " Hujus capiam D. Dale nobis fecit. Nimis fretasse prolixe 

 hanc speciem descripsus." 



Wilkes, in his "English Moths and Butterflies," 1773, writes, "The 

 Plantain Fritillary Butterfly. The caterpillar hereof feeds on plantain, clover, 

 and grass, changes to a chrysalis, within a web of its own spinning, upon the 

 surface of the ground, at the beginning of May, and the fly appears fourteen 

 days after. The caterpillars are sociable, and feed together. They appear 

 of a very timorous nature, for if you move the food on which they are, they 

 immediately quit their hold and fall to the ground, and there remain in a 

 curled up form till such time they think the danger over. The butterfly is 

 swift in flight, but may be taken if diligently attended, in fields of hay-grass, 

 at the time above mentioned." 



Moses Harris, in his " Aurelian," 1779, writes, " The fly took its name 

 from the ingenious Lady Glanville, whose memory had like to have suffered 

 for her curiosity. Some relations that were disappointed by her will attempted 

 to set it aside by acts of lunacy, for they suggested that none but those who 

 . were deprived of their senses would go in pursuit of butterflies. Her relations 

 and legatees subpoenaed Dr. Sloan, founder of the British Museum, and Mr. 

 John Ray to support her character. The last named went to Exeter, and at 

 the trial satisfied the judge and jury of the lady's laudable inquiry into the 

 wonderful works of the creation, and established her Will. She not only 

 made the study of insects part of her amusement, but was as curious in her 

 garden, and raised an Iris from the seed, which is known to this day, by the 

 name of Miss Glanville's Flaming Iris." 



Lewin, in his " Insects of Great Britain," 1795, writes, "This is not a 

 very common butterfly, but may be may be met with in meadows and fields 

 of grass, in June/' 



